By Selma Kasap
ANKARA, Turkey (AA) - At least 72 PKK terrorists have been killed in a series of counter-terrorism operations across Turkey and northern Iraq a week.
Security forces launched the operations between Oct. 19 and Oct. 25, according to a statement issued by the Turkish General Staff.
The statement said operations in the Turkish provinces of Hakkari, Sirnak, Siirt, Diyarbakir and Erzurum, as well as northern Iraq's Zap, Avasin and Basyan regions were ongoing.
Weapons and equipment, including 1.2 kilos of C-4 plastic explosive, 202 kilos of ammonium nitrate, rifles, hand grenades and 4,000 rounds of ammunition, were seized. Gun emplacements and hideouts were destroyed.
In an effort to curtail terror financing, security forces seized more than 62,000 packages of unregulated cigarettes, 300 kilograms (660 pounds) of hashish and nearly 300 cattle.
Border security operations saw 13,249 people held as they tried to cross the border illegally, the statement added.
Over the week, seven Turkish soldiers were martyred and eleven injured.
The statement added that Turkish forces responded to attacks from the Azaz-Mare and Menbic areas of northern Syria.
Separately, three terrorists were killed in a counter-terrorism operation in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir, the governor's office said Friday.
The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its armed campaign against Turkey in July 2015.
Since then, it has been responsible for the deaths of more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including women and children.
* Hasan Namli contributed to this report from Diyarbakir